STOURBRIDGE AND OLDSWINFORD. 333

Corps, Captain James Walker; a market and corn exchange; two banks - the Old Bank, a branch of the Birmingham and Midland, and the Stourbridge and Kidderminster; a Mechanics' Institute and Church of England Young Men's Association; a Town Library, founded in 1790; schools, and many other lesser institutions, charities, &c.

Stourbridge gives name to a County Court district, which includes the parishes of Oldswinford, Kingswinford, Kinver, Enville, Halesowen (except Oldbury and the Warleys), Pedmore, Hagley, and Clent. A new Court-house has recently been erected of stone, having a handsome exterior, and containing every requisite accommodation for the large amount of business transacted. During the year 1867 upwards of 6,200 plaints were entered. Judge, F. Dinsdale, Esq., Leamington ; registrar, J. Harward, Esq.; high bailiff, W. Akroyd, Esq.; all of whom have held their appointments from the time the County Court Act of 1846 came into operation.

Oldswinford Church was rebuilt by subscription in 1843, at a cost of about £5,000, and contains upwards of 1,400 sittings, about one-half of which are free; Rev. C. H. Craufurd rector; value of living, £780; Earl Dudley patron.

Stourbridge has two churches - St. Thomas's and St. John's. The former was erected in 1735, and enlarged in 1809. Till recently the election of the minister of St. Thomas's was vested in the inhabitants, and very unseemly consequences arose at the elections, which were generally contested with much fierceness, the Dissenters having then a right to vote. The present incumbent, the Rev. Hugh Sherrard, was elected by the inhabitants, but within the last two or three years the church has been fortunately brought under the control of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who have endowed it with an income of £200 per annum; and although the inhabitants have now lost their right of election this is amply compensated by the suppression of the scenes which usually occurred in the exercise of that right, and by the assignment of a district or parish for the church. After